Celtic Starting XI Vs Hearts As The Hoops Look To Go Six Clear

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has named his starting 11 to face Hearts this afternoon at Celtic Park, with the Hoops looking to extend their lead to six points at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Last time out against Dundee at Dens Park, James Forrest started the Game for the first time since November, with the Scottish winger managing to net two goals and that has clearly played a part in Rodgers’ thinking this afternoon.

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Rodgers has named an unchanged starting 11, which highlights that the Irishman was impressed with what he saw against Dundee, despite Tony Docherty’s side posing a challenge for spells of the match.

Joe Hart starts in goal, with the Englishman retiring at the end of the season.

Like many of the Celtic squad, he has found his form when it mattered most towards the Business end of the season.

Celtic’s back four also continues with Alistair Johnston at right-back, the Canadian international’s attacking threat has really come to the fore in recent months in the Hoops side.

Cameron Carter-Vickers partners Liam Scales at the heart of defence, who yesterday penned a new four-year deal at Celtic Park.

Scales will look to show Rodgers and the Celtic faithful this afternoon just why he deserved a new deal.

Greg Taylor finishes off the back four, with the Scotland international currently in negotiations with the club over a new contract.

His current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2025, with Rodgers yesterday discussing that he is hopeful of an agreement being reached between Taylor and the club.

Callum McGregor continues at the heart of midfield following his injury scare against Dundee, joining Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate in the engine room.

The trio seems to have established themselves as the first-choice midfielders, sidelining Tomoki Iwata, who had shown promise in recent weeks.

Today’s match is too soon for Daizen Maeda to start, but he’s notably on the bench.

James Forrest and Nicolas Kuhn are favoured out wide, with Kyogo Furuhashi leading the line.

Today’s match kicks off at 3pm UK time and seems to be a pivotal moment in Celtic’s quest for a third consecutive league title.